Colorado’s count of hepatitis A cases from the frozen berry mix sold at Costco has now reached at least 22 patients, according to a new CDC update. The new summary also mentions that a sister agency, the FDA, is now looking at the food manufacturer’s plant for more clues of the origins of the apparently foodborne virus.

The CDC reported a total of 118 cases in 12 states; its accompanying case map, which has sometimes lagged the total count, shows Colorado with the second-highest number of cases after California. The map’s total of 20 Colorado cases was counted when CDC overall was announcing only 102 cases, according to Seattle food safety attorney Bill Marler. So it’s possible Colorado’s total is now higher; we are checking. (Yes, it’s now at 22, according to state health.)

The FDA is inspecting the production facilities of the frozen berries’ origins, Townsend Farms of Fairview, Oregon. The berries were sold at Costco and Harris Teeter stores under the lable “Townsend Farms Organic Anti-Oxidant Blend,” but so far the people who got sick have only reported shopping for the berries at Costco. Seventy-one percent of those ill who were interviewed said they had eaten the berry blend.

The FDA is also working out a testing protocol from samples taken of the berry blend itself. The CDC has reported that the particular strain of hepatitis A found in patient tests is most common in Middle Eastern countries, and one ingredient of the berry blend came from Turkey. But the federal agencies have not yet declared a known culprit for transmission of hepatitis A, which is a relatively common illness in some food workers and can be spread from their hands to food products.

Agricola Daniella-brand mangoes from Mexico have tested positive for Salmonella, leading the Food and Drug Administration to warn consumers against eating them.

The mangos have been placed on an Import Alert, which means they are barred from entering the U.S. until the importer shows they are not contaminated.

For those mangoes already here, consumers should wash their hands with soap and warm water after handling the mango, which can be identified by product stickers. If a mango does not have a sticker, the FDA recommends consumers ask their retailer about it.

And “when in doubt, throw it out,” the FDA advised.

Contamination can be both inside and outside of mangoes, and cutting, slicing or dicing the fruit may transfer the bacteria from the outside skin to the fruit’s flesh.

A current Salmonella outbreak has infected 105 people in 16 states, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The California public health department has traced several illnesses back to Agricola Daniella.

Most people infected with Salmonella develop diarrhea, fever, and abdominal cramps 12 to 72 hours after infection, according to the CDC. The illness usually lasts four to seven days, and most people recover without treatment.

In some cases, diarrhea becomes severe enough to require hospitalization. The elderly, infants, and those with impaired immune systems are more likely to have a severe illness.

Under the new federal safety plan, drugmakers must fund training programs to help health professionals safely prescribe painkillers, including morphine, methadone and oxycodone. Thousands of Americans die from overdoses of the drugs each year.

Inappropriate use of the drugs was linked to 425,000 emergency department visits and 15,600 deaths in 2009, the AP reported.

Drug companies will have to offer training for doctors who prescribe the drugs, and the training will be designed by professional health educators – not the drug companies.

Food-producers raising chickens, pigs, cattle and other animals will have to consult veterinarians before dispensing antibiotics also used as human medicine, the FDA announced today as part of a plan to cut back on animal consumption of the drugs.

The main goal is to end the use of antibiotics on entire herds or flocks for the purpose of making the animals grow faster. Within three years, the FDA and USDA expect drug use on farms and ranches to drop significantly.

The FDA has been under pressure for years by health and food safety advocates to crack down on the widespread use of antibiotics to promote growth or prevent illness. Overuse in animals has been linked to antibiotic resistance in people, meaning important medicines become ineffective.

A senator is asking the FDA to investigate energy drinks – Rockstar, Red Bull and Monster Energy, among others – after the death of a young girl.

U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin, D-IL, sent a letter to the FDA this week calling for federal regulation of the highly caffeinated drinks.
The girl went into cardiac arrest and died last December after drinking two Monster Energy drinks within 24 hours.

Anais Fournier, 14, had a fairly common heart condition her doctor didn’t consider life-threatening. Her official cause of death was cardiac arrhythmia due to caffeine toxicity. The teen reportedly drank two, 24-ounce energy drinks with a caffeine intake five times the recommended limit for kids.

Electa Draper is the health writer for The Denver Post and has covered every news beat in a 22-year journalism career at three newspapers. She has a bachelor's degree in biology and a master's in journalism.